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Bad stood against a wall, holding his phone up to his face. Not that there was much to look at. Just a distraction from the blaring music and flashing lights. The people who would bump up next to him. Crowd around him. Don’t get him wrong; he liked meeting new people and getting to know about them and their content. But he hated when they would try and touch him. Wrap an arm around his shoulders like they had been friends for years, even if they had just met.
He also hated parties. Which was unfortunate.
Bad lowered his phone as someone called out his name. The guy walked up to him, holding a camera and a small microphone. A few other people trailed behind him as Bad tried to figure out if he recognized him. And.
The stranger threw an arm around his back, gripping his shoulder.
Of course.
Bad scowled, crossing his arms across his chest.
The man asked Bad a few questions about his experience at the party and VidCon. All the while with a camera shoved in his face. Once he seemed satisfied with his responses, he let out a holler and tussled Bad around before giving him a drink and parading away.
Bad stared down at the glass, mouth agape. He shook his head in disbelief and looked around for somewhere to dispose of the… Mysterious alcoholic beverage.
The was a standing table a few feet away that had several empty glasses set on it. He was pretty sure he had seen someone clear it a few minutes ago.
Bad sighed, taking in a breath, before squeezing past and merging through parties to reach the table. He set the glass on it, frowning. He didn’t like leaving his mess for someone else to take care of, but there was no way he was drinking whatever he had been given.
Bad was about to fight his way back over to his wall when someone touched his arm. He whipped his head around, just about done with all the touching and stupid music. Gosh, he just wanted to leave. His breaking point had long passed, and whoever just decided to touch him was in for a rough time. In fact, whoever…
His eyes softened, grimace smoothing out.
It was just Skeppy.
A grin on his face that seemed to grow when Bad smiled back at him.
“I lost Hannah!” Skeppy shouted over the noise, biting down on his lip nervously.
Oh.
He and Hannah had disappeared into the thick of the party probably about a half hour earlier. They wanted to dance and find something to drink. Bad didn’t and watched his friends vanish into a crowd. Bad had tried to look for Skeppy, but it had proven hopeless. That was how he ended up crammed against a wall.
But here Skeppy was. Hair visibly glistened with sweat, and flushed cheeks.
Bad held up a finger and pulled him to a fairly empty corner. That ‘fairly’ being very subjective in this case. He still had to push past several people.
“I didn’t want to shout,” Bad explained, still having to speak louder than normal.
“You’re good,” Skeppy raked a hand through his hair, looking around before his eyes settled back on Bad, “I was saying that I lost Hannah. She went to find a bathroom, and then I accidentally left where we had been. I was about to call you for help when I found you. Why were you holding a drink, by the way?”
Bad groaned, rolling his eyes, “You don’t even want to know, Skeppy.”
Skeppy chuckled and stumbled towards Bad as someone collided with him. He fell into his side, and Bad set a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from falling even further.
“Jesus fucking christ,” Skeppy said, looking around for whoever had pushed him. It was pointless anyway. They were probably long gone.
Skeppy lifted a hand to whisper to Bad, and he tilted his head down, “Let’s find Hannah and get out of here.”
That sounded perfect to Bad. He had already been exhausted when they left the convention center. Ready to head up to his hotel room. But Skeppy had wanted to go to this party, and he couldn’t have really said no, could he?
Bad gave a thumbs-up, and they began aimlessly walking around. Skeppy’s hand wrapped tightly around his forearm so they wouldn’t lose one another.
They found Hannah near some sort of lounge area, talking with a group of people. Bad didn’t think he knew who they were.
She noticed them and stepped away from the conversation, “Hey guys!”
“Hi, Hannah,” Bad smiled.
“Sorry, Skeppy. I couldn’t find you, so I just stayed over here,” She explained and then asked, “Are y’all heading out?”
He nodded, “Yeah, do you wanna come with us?”
“Uh,” She glanced at Skeppy before shaking her head, “No, I think I’ll stay for a while longer. I’ll probably leave with another group.”
“You sure? Skeppy and I can-”
“I think she’ll be fine, Bad,” Skeppy interjected.
Bad shrugged, “Okay… Just be careful, alright?”
Hannah nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear, “I will, don’t worry,” One of her friends turned to her, muttering something, “Okay. Bye, guys!”
“Bye!”
“Bye,” Skeppy echoed slowly. Bad watched as he shared a look with Hannah. She raised her eyebrows at him before turning away.
Bad frowned, glancing curiously at Skeppy. He didn’t look back, tugging on his arm to lead them to the exit.
Thankfully the party venue was right next to their hotel, so they could just walk. Skeppy let his arm drop once they had made it outside. He huffed out a breath and shoved his hands into his pockets, looking down at his shoes.
Bad watched his movements. The short glances Skeppy would take at him, thinking he didn’t notice. It was odd.
They walked to the hotel in silence. Bad held the lobby door open for Skeppy, who suddenly asked once they were inside, “Can you walk me to my room?”
“Sure?” Bad said more as a question, following behind Skeppy.
Something was obviously bothering him. Just from how he was speaking and holding himself. It was easy to tell when Skeppy was distressed or worried about something. He was probably just tired. Yeah. That was it.
They rode the elevator up to the ninth floor and got out. He hadn’t been to Skeppy’s room yet. When he had arrived for Vidcon, Skeppy had come down to his room to say hello.
Skeppy led them down a hallway and then stopped at a door, scanning his keycard. He pushed the door open, flicking the lights on.
Bad awkwardly stood in the hall, unsure if Skeppy wanted him to come inside.
Skeppy held the door open, looking back at him with questioning eyes. That answered it.
“Sorry,” Bad muttered and took the door from Skeppy, closing it behind him. He looked around, noticing just how large his room was. There was a kitchenette and sitting area. He seemed to even have a balcony, “My room is tiny compared to yours; what the fudge,” Bad commented, leaning against the kitchenette island.
Skeppy shrugged, “I don’t know why they gave me such a huge room for one person,” He sat down on the edge of his bed.
Bad started, “So why’d you want-”
Skeppy interrupted, “Bad, can I ask you something?”
He frowned, feeling his stomach drop. He tapped his knuckles against the counter, trying to read Skeppy. It was hard when he was just sitting there. Looking down at his lap, hands laid out. Still on either knee. Bad answered, “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Does what people say about us ever get to you?”
Bad straightened up, “Like hate? I mean, not really. Sometimes it frustrates me. I try not to let it get to me, though.”
“Not that kind of stuff,” Skeppy muttered, and Bad craned his neck, trying to understand what he said.
“What was that?”
“I mean about us . What people say about you and me,” Skeppy said quickly.
He pursed his lips, waiting for Skeppy to continue. But he didn’t. Bad gripped onto the counter. It was an interesting question. He replied lowly, “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious,” Skeppy jumped back, and Bod noticed his hands tighten on his knees. Gripping as he tried and failed to maintain a calm composure.
“Oh,” Bad drew out, thinking through his response, “No, it doesn’t,” And that was a lie. It did get to him. Quite often. Even if he didn’t want to admit it. Neither to himself nor anyone else, for that matter. He continued, “What about you?”
“Um. Sometimes.”
Skeppy’s eyes darted up to him before looking back down. Bad said slowly, “They’re just joking, though. I mean, I wouldn’t let it affect you. You know the truth.”
Skeppy laughed, breathy and static, “I do?” He murmured, hands moving from his knees up to his face. They covered his mouth.
Bad inhaled deeply through his nose. He quietly asked, “What?”
“I don’t know…” It sounded mumbled behind his fingers. His hands dropped back to his lap, “It doesn’t matter. I’m sorry.”
“No, it does,” He said, stepping away from the island.
“I was being stupid,” He finally looked up, and their eyes met, “I shouldn’t have asked you to walk me to my room…” He stood up, hands clenching into fists, “Just go. You can leave,” Skeppy told him, tone tight and hurried.
Bad didn’t move. Neither did Skeppy.
“Bad…” Skeppy pleaded, “Just leave.”
“What are we, Skeppy?”
“We’re best friends,” He said it, almost as a rehearsed thing.
“What do people think we are?”
Skeppy met his eye. Mouth opening and closing. Bad didn’t look away. Took a step toward him.
“They think we’re… dating,” Skeppy mumbled.
“And what’s the truth?”
“I don’t know,” He said almost in a whisper.
“What do you want the truth to be?”
Skeppy didn’t reply, pursing his lips and eyebrows drawn down. Bad took another few steps toward him. They were about a foot away from one another.
Skeppy’s head tilted down, “Bad,” He crossed his arms across his chest. Bad put his hand on his shoulder. Skeppy didn’t react to it, but he heard him exhale shakily before he asked softly, “Can you kiss me?”
He didn’t have to think about it.
Bad took Skeppy’s chin in one hand, pulling up, while the other drifted from his shoulder to the back of his neck. He kissed him. Noses bumping together and Skeppy’s hair tickling his forehead.
At first, Skeppy didn’t react. Until he did. Skeppy grabbed the back of his head and pulled him closer. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss. Bad stumbled forward and made a soft noise, slightly surprised by the action.
But it felt good. In an indescribable way. He knew it was right. The way things should’ve always been.
Skeppy pulled back first, breathing heavily, “I know what I want the truth to be.”
“I do too.”
Their eyes met. And then their lips connected again.